Allison Janney

Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an American actress. Known for her performances across the screen and stage, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards.

Born in Boston and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Janney received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London following her graduation from Kenyon College. After years of minor and uncredited film and television appearances, Janney's breakthrough came with the role of C. J. Cregg in the NBC political drama series The West Wing (1999–2006), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2014, for her guest role of Margaret Scully, a sexually repressed 1950s housewife on Showtime's period drama series Masters of Sex, she won a fifth Emmy. For her portrayal of Bonnie Plunkett, a cynical recovering addict on the CBS sitcom Mom (2013–2021), Janney won two more Emmys. In 2024 and 2025, she guest starred in the Netflix drama series The Diplomat.

Janney made her professional stage debut with the Off-Broadway production Ladies (1989), and followed with numerous bit parts in various similar productions, before making her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Present Laughter. She won two Drama Desk Awards and has been nominated for two Tony Awards: for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in the Broadway revival of A View from the Bridge (1997), and for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the original Broadway production of the musical 9 to 5 (2009).

Janney has also played character roles in various films, including Primary Colors (1998), American Beauty (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Hours (2002), Juno (2007), Hairspray (2007), The Help (2011), Spy (2015), Bad Education (2019), and Bombshell (2019). For her portrayal of LaVona Golden in the film I, Tonya (2017), Janney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Early life and education

Allison Brooks Janney was born on November 19, 1959, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. She is the daughter of Macy Brooks Janney (née Putnam), a former actress, and Jervis Spencer Janney Jr., a real estate developer and jazz musician. She has an older brother, Jay, and had a younger brother, Hal (1961–2011). Hal, who had battled depression and addiction for many years, died by suicide in 2011 at the age of 49.

Janney is a descendant of Stephen Hopkins through his daughter Constance Hopkins, both of whom travelled to the New World on the Mayflower, as she recounted on a 2022 episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

She attended the Miami Valley School in Dayton, where she was named a distinguished alumna in 2005, and the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, where she was named Alumna of the Year in 2016.

She attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she majored in theatre. She went on to train at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York and then received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in mid-1984.

Career

1989–1998: Early roles and Broadway debut Janney's first role on television was in the short-lived black-and-white faux-1940s comedy Morton & Hayes. She moved on to soap operas; she played the recurring role of Ginger, one of the Spaulding maids, on Guiding Light for two years. In the spring of 1994, she appeared in the season-four finale of Law & Order, titled "Old Friends", as a reluctant witness against a member of the Russian mob. She was also a cast member on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Janney made her professional stage debut in 1989 with an uncredited part in the Off-Broadway production Ladies. following minor roles in similar productions like Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Café, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and Blue Window.

Janney made her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter. She played Liz Essendine, the estranged wife of the lead character (played by Frank Langella). Although a minor role, her performance garnered praise and attention with The New York Times calling it "The most fully accomplished performance on the stage". For her performance in the play, Janney won the Theatre World Award, Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. Janney made her film debut with a minor part in Who Shot Pat? (1989). This was followed by a series of minor roles in numerous films throughout the 1990s, including; Wolf (1994), Big Night (1996), Private Parts (1997), The Ice Storm (1997), The Object of My Affection (1998), The Impostors (1998), Primary Colors (1998), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), and American Beauty (1999).

Janney starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 1998 revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge to positive reviews. Janney starred opposite Anthony LaPaglia, Stephen Spinella, and Brittany Murphy. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Janney, writing "Allison Janney is splendid as Beatrice, a loving, patient woman of backbone who looks on helplessly but not quietly as her husband heads into the darkness". Charles Isherwood of Variety agreed describing her performance as "affecting". For her performance, Janney won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, and received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

1999–2006: The West Wing

After a decade of small and uncredited parts, Janney had her breakthrough when she was cast as White House Press Secretary C. J. Cregg in the NBC political drama The West Wing. Creator Aaron Sorkin called Janney to audition for the role after seeing her in the film Primary Colors. Loosely based on Dee Dee Myers, the press secretary during Clinton administration, C. J. is a National Merit Scholar who ultimately succeeds Leo McGarry as White House Chief of Staff. Writing for The Atlantic, John Reid says that "her capability and combination of strength and simple compassion represented the fantasy of the Bartlet White House better than anyone." The publication also ranks her as the best character from the series. In their ranking of the best characters from all the television series created by Sorkin, Vulture ranks C. J. at No. 2 and says; "If all the Sorkin women were as classy, self-assured, and legitimately funny (the turkey pardon!) as C. J., we'd never have had the Sorkin woman argument in the first place". For her portrayal of C. J. Cregg, Janney won four Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Award, a Satellite Award and four nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, making her the most awarded cast member of the series. For the last of these she won the Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble.

She also appeared in Nurse Betty (2000), The Hours (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), How to Deal (2003), The Chumscrubber (2005), Winter Solstice (2004), and Our Very Own (2005). For the last of these, she received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. During this time Janney guest starred on the sitcom Frasier in the 2002 episode "Three Blind Dates".

2007–2016: Established actor Janney appeared in the short-lived Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2007) as a guest. In 2010, Janney appeared as Allison Pearson in In Plain Sight. In May 2010, she appeared one of the final episodes of the television series Lost as the adoptive mother of the show's two mythological opponents, Jacob and The Man in Black. She starred in the ABC network comedy Mr. Sunshine. The series, which was created by Matthew Perry, was a mid-season replacement for the 2010–11 television season.

In 2007, Janney starred in Jason Reitman's comedy-drama Juno, playing Bren MacGuff, the titular character's stepmother. In the same year, she appeared in the musical Hairspray, and won the Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards for Best Acting Ensemble. In 2010, Janney earned praise for her performance in Todd Solondz's comedy-drama Life During Wartime. In 2009, Janney starred in the musical 9 to 5 alongside Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty. Her performance garnered positive reviews, and Janney earned the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

In 2011, Janney appeared in Tate Taylor's period drama The Help alongside Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Mary Steenburgen and others. She won the Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. She also appeared in the drama Margaret (2011), the coming-of-age comedy Struck by Lightning (2012), and the comedy Liberal Arts (2012).

Following few short-lived shows and a brief sabbatical from television, Janney returned to the small screen with the CBS sitcom Mom, which ran from 2013 until 2021. Janney played Bonnie Plunkett, a self-centered, cynical recovering addict who tries to regain the love and trust of her daughter (played by Anna Faris). She was influenced to take on the role following the death of her younger brother from drug addiction, as well as her longtime desire to work on multicam comedy. For her performance on the series, Janney garnered critical acclaim and six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning twice as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also received six nominations at the Critics' Choice Television Awards winning twice for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. From 2014 to 2016, Janney guest-starred in Showtime's period drama Masters of Sex, portraying a sexually repressed homemaker in 1950s who struggles to understand the disintegration of her marriage. Her performance received praise with Janney receiving three consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series winning one in 2014, and winning the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series. She voiced Julia in The Simpsons episode "Friends and Family" (2016) and acted as herself in the IFC sketch series Comedy Bang! Bang! episode "Allison Janney Wears a Chambray Western Shirt and Suede Fringe Boots".

2017–present: Career expansion Janney at the premiere of Bad Education at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. In 2017, Janney returned to Broadway with the revival of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation in the role of Ouisa Kittredge. Marilyn Stasio of Variety praised Janney's performance writing, "[Her] wicked, smart delivery is perfect for Guare's witty dialogue." David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter concurred writing, "I found I couldn't take my eyes off her...she looks spectacular in costumer Clint Ramos' sleek socialite outfits, and she nails both the initial poise and the despairing needed [for the role]". Janney received nominations for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play.

In 2017, Janney starred in Craig Gillespie's black comedy I, Tonya, based on the life of figure skater Tonya Harding. Screenwriter Steven Rogers wrote the role of LaVona specifically for Janney and refused to sell his screenplay until Janney was cast in the film. Janney would consider the part as one of the most challenging of her career. Janney's performance received widespread acclaim with Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post writing: 'Janney steals every scene she's in, playing LaVona, a harridan whose nodding goes beyond tough love.' She earned numerous accolades for her performance in the film including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Independent Spirit Award, and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Janney appeared as herself, in a 2019 episode of the second season of the Netflix series The Kominsky Method. On the Disney Channel animated show Phineas and Ferb, Janney voiced Dr. Doofenshmirtz's ex-wife, Charlene. Janney appeared in five films in 2019. She had cameo appearances in the family comedy Troop Zero, the psychological thriller Ma, and Bombshell. For the last of these she received nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Acting Ensemble. Janney also voiced Margaux Needler in the animated version of The Addams Family. Janney also appeared in Bad Education and Tate Taylor's comedy-drama Breaking News in Yuba County. She also had the title role in J. J. Abrams's thriller Lou. In 2022, Janney appeared in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? in which she learned she was descended from Stephen Hopkins, one of the settlers on the Mayflower. Janney subsequently appeared in the romantic comedy film The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022), and the science fiction film The Creator (2023).

In 2024, Janney began portraying Evelyn Rollins, a socialite in the late 1960’s in Apple TV+'s period comedy series Palm Royale. The same year she guest starred in the final season of the sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2024, Janney began starring in Netflix's political drama The Diplomat as Vice President of the United States Grace Penn. Her first foray into the genre since The West Wing, Janney's performance garnered critical acclaim and nominations at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards with Rolling Stone ranking her performance amongst "The 10 Best TV Performances of 2024". Janney appears in the 2025 films Another Simple Favor and Everything's Going to Be Great.

Personal life

Janney has never been married and has no children, of which she said: "I've never had that instinct to have kids, I'm at peace with it". She was romantically involved with computer programmer Dennis Gagomiros. The couple began dating in 1994, and were interested in getting married but ended their relationship after seven years together in 2001. In 2002, she met actor Richard Jenik (her co-star in Our Very Own). The couple got engaged in 2004 but broke up two years later in 2006. In 2012, Janney met production manager Philip Joncas on the set of The Way, Way Back and they began dating soon after. The couple dated for five years before ending their relationship in 2017.

In interviews related to her role on Mom, Janney discussed her brother, Hal, who fought drug addiction for years before he died by suicide. She has credited playing her character on Mom to people fighting addiction. On March 4, 2018, Janney dedicated her Academy Award win to him during her acceptance speech.

In 2004, she began lending her voice to television and radio spots created by Kaiser Permanente in the health maintenance organization's broad "Thrive" media campaign, and in a radio campaign for the American Institute of Architects. In September 2010, it was announced that Janney would be the voice of the Aly San San spokesdroid in the Disney attraction Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. The attraction later opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. In October 2016, Janney became the first woman to receive the Alumni Award of The Hotchkiss School and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in the entertainment industry, located at 6100 Hollywood Boulevard.

Activism In 2018, Janney participated in the 2018 Women's March in Los Angeles, part of a larger national movement for women's rights, human rights, and social justice.

In 2016, Janney was honored at the White House at the event "Champions of Change", which honored 10 people for advancing addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. She also participated in a panel discussion with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about the portrayal of addiction and recovery in the media. In 2017, Janney donated $250,000 to Planned Parenthood. In 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Janney donated $10,000 to the Dayton Foodbank, an organization providing food to the homeless.

Janney and her West Wing co-stars were part of Michelle Obama's When We All Vote initiative. More recently, she participated in Divas for Democracy: United We Slay, a streaming variety show supporting voter registration.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 Who Shot Pat? Miss Penny 1994 Dead Funny Jennifer NYPD computer operator Wolf Party Guest Miracle on 34th Street Woman in Christmas Shop Heading Home Mary Polanski 1996 Flux Heather Rescuing Desire Betsy Walking and Talking Gum Puller Big Night Ann Faithful Saleswoman Sandy 1997 Anita Liberty Gynecologist Short film Private Parts Dee Dee Dot Halford Julian Po Lilah Leech 1998 Primary Colors Miss Walsh Constance Miller Maxine Six Days, Seven Nights Marjorie Smith, Robin's Boss Celebrity Evelyn Isaacs 1999 10 Things I Hate About You Ms. Perky Drop Dead Gorgeous Loretta American Beauty Barbara Fitts 2000 Leaving Drew Paula Short film Auto Motives Gretchen Nurse Betty Lyla Branch Rooftop Kisses Melissa Short film 2002 Sally Lester 2003 Finding Nemo Peach Voice How to Deal Lydia Martin Chicken Party Barbara Strasser Short film 2004 Piccadilly Jim Eugenia Crocker Winter Solstice Molly Ripkin 2005 Strangers with Candy Alice Our Very Own Joan Whitfield Allie Stifle 2006 Over the Hedge Gladys Sharp Voice 2007 Hairspray Prudy Pingleton Juno Brenda "Bren" MacGuff 2008 Pretty Ugly People Suzanna Prop 8: The Musical Prop 8 leader's wife Short film from Funny or Die 2009 Away We Go Lily Anderson Life During Wartime Trish Maplewood 2011 Margaret Wounded woman / Monica Patterson Charlotte Phelan Cathy Ostroff 2012 Samantha Davis Struck by Lightning Sheryl Phillips Liberal Arts Prof. Judith Fairfield 2013 Betty Thompson Days and Nights Elizabeth Bad Words Dr. Bernice Deagan Trust Me Meg Brightest Star The Astronomer 2014 Tammy Deb Mr. Peabody & Sherman Ms. Grunion Voice Prof. Mary Weldon Get On Up Kathy 2015 Dottie Piper Spy Elaine Crocker Minions Madge NelsonVoice 2016 Tallulah Margaret "Margo" Mooney Finding Dory Peach Voice, cameo Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Dr. Nancy Golan / Mr. Barron Detective Riley 2017 Principal Nichols Sun Dogs Rose Chipley I, Tonya LaVona Golden 2019 Troop Zero Miss Massey Ma Dr. Brooks Cameo Bad Education Pamela "Pam" Gluckin Margaux Needler Voice Bombshell Susan Estrich 2020 Lazy Susan Velvet Swensen Jan Short film 2021 Breaking News in Yuba County Sue Buttons Also executive producer 2022 To Leslie Nancy Lou Lou Adell Also executive producer Donna 2023 Colonel Howell 2025 Another Simple Favor Aunt Linda McLanden Everything's Going to Be Great Macy Smart Eleanor 2026 Miss You, Love You Diane Patterson Minions & Monsters Olivia H. Voice Darlene 2027 TBA Voice; in production TBA Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes 1991 Morton & Hayes Beatrice Caldicott-Hayes 2 episodes 1992 Law & Order Nora Episode: "Star Struck" 1993 Blind Spot Doreen Television film 1993–1995 Guiding Light Ginger Numerous episodes 1994 Law & Order Ann Madsen Episode: "Old Friends" 1995 The Wright Verdicts Alice Klein Episode: "Sins of the Father" 1995 New York Undercover Vivian Episode: "Digital Underground" 1996 Aliens in the Family Principal Sherman Episode: "A Very Brody Tweeznax" 1996 Cosby Podiatric Nurse Episode: "Happily Ever Hilton" 1997 ...First Do No Harm Dr. Melanie Abbasac Television film 1997 Path to Paradise Assistant District Attorney Television film 1998 David and Lisa Alix Television film 1999 LateLine Helen Marschant Episode: "The Minister of Television" 1999–2006 C. J. Cregg Main cast; 155 episodes 2000–2003 Scruff Holly Voice, main role 2000 A Girl Thing Kathy McCormack Television film 2001–2002 Frasier Phyllis / Susanna 2 episodes 2003 King of the Hill Laura Episode: "Full Metal Dust Jacket" 2005 Weeds Ms. Greenstein Episode: "Lude Awakening" 2007 Two and a Half Men Beverly Episode: "My Damn Stalker" 2007 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Herself Episode: "The Disaster Show" 2008–2013 Phineas and Ferb Charlene Doofenshmirtz Voice, 9 episodes 2010–2015 Family Guy Various Voice, 3 episodes 2010 Lost "Mother" Episode: "Across the Sea" 2010 In Plain Sight Allison Pearson 2 episodes 2011 Glenn Martin, DDS Marcia Episode: "GlennHog Day" 2011 Mr. Sunshine Crystal Cohen Main cast; 13 episodes 2012 The Big C Rita Strauss Episode: "Life Rights" 2012 Robot Chicken Grammi Gummi / Woman Voice, episode: "In Bed Surrounded by Loved Ones" 2013 Veep Janet Ryland Episode: "First Response" 2013–2015 Masters of Sex Margaret Scully 9 episodes 2013–2021 Mom Bonnie Plunkett Main role; 170 episodes 2014 Web Therapy Judith Frick 2 episodes 2015 Key & Peele Various Episode: "Key & Peele's Super Bowl Special" 2016 The Simpsons Julia Voice, episode: "Friends and Family" 2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Allison Janney Wears a Chambray Western Shirt and Suede Fringe Boots" 2017–2018 F Is for Family Henrietta Van Horne Voice, 5 episodes 2017 Nobodies Herself 2 episodes 2017 American Dad! Jessie Voice, episode: "Family Plan" 2018–2020 DuckTales Goldie O'Gilt Voice, 5 episodes 2019 The Kominsky Method Herself Episode: "Chapter 16. A Thetan Arrives" 2020 A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote C. J. Cregg Television special 2020 Celebrity IOU Herself Episode: "Alison Janney Gifts A Showstopper" 2021 Q-Force Unknown Voice, episode: "WeHo Confidential" 2022 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself Episode: "Allison Janney" 2024–2026 Palm Royale Evelyn Rollins Main role 2024 Curb Your Enthusiasm Cynthia Episode: "No Lessons Learned" 2024–present The Diplomat Grace Penn 6 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Venue Notes 1989 Ladies Performer Off-Broadway 1991 Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Café 1992 Making Book Megan Chamber 1993 Five Women Wearing the Same Dress Mindy Manhattan Class Company, Off-Broadway 1993 Class One Acts Performer Off-Broadway 1993 Breaking Up Alice Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway 1995 New England Gemma Baker New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway 1996 Blue Window Boo Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway 1996 Present Laughter Liz Essendine Playwrights Horizons, Off-BroadwayWalter Kerr Theatre, Broadway 1997 A View from the Bridge Beatrice Carbone Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway 1999 The Taming of the Shrew Katherina Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 2007 The Autumn Garden Constance Tuckerman Williamstown Theatre Festival 2009 9 to 5: The Musical Violet Newstead Marquis Theatre, Broadway 2017 Six Degrees of Separation Ouisa Kittredge Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 2026 Other Desert Cities Silda Grauman Hudson Theatre, Broadway Scheduled for September 29, 2026

Music video Year Title Role Notes 2016 "Let Me Be Your Girl" Clown Artist: Rachael Yamagata; Director: Josh Radnor

Awards and nominations